Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll (right) laughs as running back Marshawn Lynch (left) and fullback Michael Robinson warm up at the start of the team’s practice on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Seahawks and the Denver Broncos meet in Super Bowl XLVIII on Sunday, Feb. 2.Byline Withheld
/ AP

Seattle Seahawks defensive end Red Bryant stretches at the start of the team’s practice on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Seahawks and the Denver Broncos meet in Super Bowl XLVIII on Sunday, Feb. 2.Byline Withheld
/ AP

Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll watches as members of his team warm up during the team’s practice on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Seahawks and the Denver Broncos meet in Super Bowl XLVIII on Sunday, Feb. 2.Byline Withheld
/ AP

Seattle Seahawks linebacker Malcolm Smith pauses while warming up during the team’s practice on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Seahawks and the Denver Broncos meet in Super Bowl XLVIII on Sunday, Feb. 2.Byline Withheld
/ AP

Seattle Seahawks safety Earl Thomas warms up at the start of the team’s practice on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Seahawks and the Denver Broncos meet in Super Bowl XLVIII on Sunday, Feb. 2.Byline Withheld
/ AP

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson stretches at the start of the team’s practice on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Seahawks and the Denver Broncos meet in Super Bowl XLVIII on Sunday, Feb. 2.Byline Withheld
/ AP

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Golden Tate walks through the doors of the New York Giants indoor facility for the Seahawks’ practice on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Seahawks and the Denver Broncos meet in Super Bowl XLVIII on Sunday, Feb. 2.Byline Withheld
/ AP

Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll watches his team warm up during the team’s practice on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Seahawks and the Denver Broncos meet in Super Bowl XLVIII on Sunday, Feb. 2.Byline Withheld
/ AP

Seattle Seahawks tight end Zach Miller holds a ball during the team’s practice on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Seahawks and the Denver Broncos meet in Super Bowl XLVIII on Sunday, Feb. 2.Byline Withheld
/ AP

Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll smiles as his teams warms up for the team’s practice on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Seahawks and the Denver Broncos meet in Super Bowl XLVIII on Sunday, Feb. 2.Byline Withheld
/ AP

Members of the Seattle Seahawks head to the New York Giants indoor facility for the Seahawks’ practice on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Seahawks and the Denver Broncos meet in Super Bowl XLVIII on Sunday, Feb. 2.Byline Withheld
/ AP

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman stretches at the start of the team’s practice on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Seahawks and the Denver Broncos meet in Super Bowl XLVIII on Sunday, Feb. 2.Byline Withheld
/ AP

Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll (right) talks with running back Marshawn Lynch (left) and fullback Michael Robinson while they warm up at the start of the team’s practice on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Seahawks and the Denver Broncos meet in Super Bowl XLVIII on Sunday, Feb. 2.Byline Withheld
/ AP

"Our guys are going to have to be ready for that," Denver offensive co-ordinator Adam Gase said. "They know that we're in for that physical type of battle. The hardest thing is when you do get that hit, you've got do everything you can to hold onto that ball and try to convert that play."

The Seahawks were tops in the league with 28 interceptions and just 231 points allowed. They also gave up the fewest yards per game with 273.6, and had the best pass defence with 172 yards a game.

"It does work," defensive end Red Bryant said of the Thursday practices. "It's a reflection of our record. Coach Carroll from Day 1, his philosophy is all about the ball.

"He stresses to the offence to protect, and he stresses to the defensive to take the ball. On defensive in particular, we understand that every time that we take a snap, we've got an opportunity to affect the game by taking the ball, and we really believe in that.

"That's part of the biggest reason we we're able to win 15 games this year."

As far as most players could recall, the defence has won all but one of the "Turnover Thursday" sessions this season. The competition is over as soon as the offence turns the ball over — just once.

So, a wayward throw by Wilson or backup Tarvaris Jackson, a mishandled handoff or a ball knocked out of the hands of a running back or receiver and the defence wins.

"That's it, it's a wrap," backup running back Robert Turbin said. "It's like scout team offence going up against the starting D. You know what I'm saying? It was like, 'Ew.' It's kind of hard to keep the ball away from them."

Defensive end Cliff Avril senses that the offence isn't a big fan of "Turnover Thursday" because of the defence's intensity every week.

"The guys we have on our team, they pride themselves on getting turnovers," Avril said. "So it's us kind of imposing our will in a sense."

Wilson actually enjoys the practices on Thursdays to an extent, but refers to them in a different way.

"I call it 'No-Turnover Thursdays,"' Wilson said with a laugh. "The defence, they're trying to find ways to get the football. They'll do anything to try to poke the football out and, obviously, intercept the ball. It's been a fun year, doing it. It's an intense practice. Wednesdays and Thursdays truly feel like a game to us."

Wednesdays around Seahawks camp are "Competition Wednesdays," game-like sessions in which the team runs a live scrimmage that includes a play clock and simulates pressure-packed scenarios for both sides of the ball.

Each period of practice is scored, with each play going in favour of the offence or defence. So, whichever side wins the bulk of those periods comes out on top for the day.

"Yeah, we usually win those," Turbin said with a grin. "We won every Wednesday this year except one, maybe two."

Seattle's offence ranked first in the NFL with a plus-20 turnover differential, with 10 lost fumbles and nine interceptions thrown by Wilson — one fewer than Denver's Peyton Manning.

"To think about that and how hard we play all the time," Wilson said, "it makes a difference come game time."

So, if the Seahawks have names for the practices on Wednesdays and Thursdays, what about Fridays?

"It's called 'No-Repeat Fridays,"' Avril said. "That means you have to be on your P's and Q's. You can't repeat plays. Guys have to be on point as far as the mental part of the game, because, at that point (in the week), it's more mental than physical."

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